Coffin with hand-engaging peripheral flange



Oct. 7, 1969 Q BARON COFFIN WITH HAND-ENGAGING PERIPHERAL FLANGE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 9. 1967 MM @ii Oct. 7, 1969 c. BARON3,470,59'3

COFFIN wwn HAND-ENGAGING PERIPHERAL FLANGE Filed 001:. 9. 1967 2Sheets-Sheet z 4 470 /ZWm United States Patent 3,470,593 COFFIN WITHHAND-ENGAGING PERIPHERAL FLANGE Clalford Baron, Megantic, Quebec,Canada, assignor to Jean-Guy Martel and Monique Cote, both ofDrummondville, Quebec, Canada Filed Oct. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 673,789 Int.Cl. A61g 17/00 US. Cl. 27-15 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Thepresent invention relates to a fibre glass coffin having squared cornersand with a circumferential laterally projecting web exiting from theside and end walls of the coffin, and a flange at the free end of theweb and combing with the web and adjacent wall to form a beam structure,the flange also constituting a handle-forming member.

The present invention relates to a coflin, more particularly to alightweight coflin having a built-in reinforcing and handle structure.

Fibre glass coflins are well-known and are constructed with smoothcontoured exterior shapes in attempts to distribute stress and therebyresist bending. Such struc tures still require reinforcing ribs to aidin preventing deflection. The present invention utilizes a special formof reinforcing rib, which rib combines with the walls of the cotfin toform a beam and which reinforcing rib also functions as a handle memberfor the coflfln.

It is thus the main object of the present invention to provide a newcoflin structure having a reinforcing beam structure.

Broadly, the present invention relates to a coffin comprising sidewallsand end walls forming a coflin of substantially rectangular crosssection, a bottom wall extending substantially perpendicular to saidwalls, a web projecting laterally from each of said walls and extendingcircumferentially of said coflin about midway up said walls, acircumferential flange on the free end of said Web and extendingsubstantially perpendicular to said web, and hand-gripping areas on saidflange.

Further features, objects and advantages will appear from theaccompanying description and drawings. In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the coffin;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the top or lid of coflin;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the shroud;

FIGURE 4 is a cross section of the coflin;

FIGURE 5 is a partial cross section and perspective view illustratingone form of handle;

FIGURE 6 is a partial cross section of another form of handle;

FIGURE 7 illustrates one way of mounting the shroud and lid in position.

As shown in the drawings, the coffin 10' consists of substantiallystraight side walls 12 and 14, and substantially straight end walls 16and 18 connected together to form a rectangular structure. A bottom wall20 (see FIGURE 4) extends substantially perpendicular to the walls 12,14, 16 and 18. Approximately midway up the walls 12, 14, 16 and 18 is alaterally extending circumferential web 22. A circumferential flange 24is connected to the outer edge of the web 22 and extends substantiallyperpendicular to the web 22. The flange 24, web 22 and adjacent walls12, 14, 16 and 18 combine to form a beam structure rigidifying the wallsof the coflin.

A peripheral lip-forming member 26 defines the mouth of the coflin. Thismember 26 has a slot 28 into which the top edges of the walls 12, 14, 16and 18 are received and glued or otherwise secured. The member 26 has asubstantially flat upper surface 30 and a laterally inwardly projectingcircumferential lower shelf-forming flange 32. Beginning at about thecentre of the said wall 12 and extending about halfway around the coflinto about the middle of the side wall 14 is an upper retaining flange 34integral with the member 26 (see FIGURES 1 and 7). A slot 36 is formedbetween the flanges 32 and 34 and is adapted to receive a laterallyprojecting member 38 formed on the shroud 40 (see FIGURE 3) as will bedescribed hereinbelow.

The top 42 of the coffin consists of a roof structure bounded by adescending stepped peripheral flange 44. In the stepped section 46 ofthe flange 44 is a gasket 48 held in position in a groove 50 providedfor this purpose (see FIGURE 7).

To mount the shroud 40 it is first placed onto the flange 32 adjacent toend wall 18 and then is slid toward end wall 16 so that the member 38 isreceived within the slot 36 formed between the flanges 32 and 34. Theshroud 40 may be secured in this position by a suitable adhesive, ifdesired.

The top or lid 42 is placed onto the coflin and is secured thereon by asuitable adhesive. As shown, the flange 44 is flared outward to receivethe: member 26 and the member 26 has a similarly flared outwardlyprojecting shoulder 52 (see FIGURE 4) adapted to centre the lid 42relative to the coflin 10.

The rigidity of the coflin and lid is provided by the substantiallysquared corners which form relatively stifl reinforcing ribs outliningthe shape of the coflin, by the web 22 and flange 24 forming aperipheral beam structure and by the member 26 which tends to resistdefection of the walls.

The web 22 and flange 24 serve a second purpose, namely that of a handlemeans for carrying the coflin. In the embodiment of (FIGURE 4 the handleis formed by flange 24 which forms a handrail around the coffin. In theFIGURE 5 arrangement slots 60 have been cut through the flange 22 topermit the hand to be slid between the flange 24' and the adjacent wallso that the fingers may be extended beneath and grip the flange 24'. Theflange 24' may also operate as a handrail. In the FIGURE 6 arrangementthe flange 24" is provided with an upper and lower curled lip 62 and 64respectively. The coflin may be carried by passing the fingers betweenthe flange 24" and the adjacent wall and curling the fingers under thelip 62 or the flange 24" may be used as a handrail simply by grippingthe lip 64.

Thus applicant has disclosed one form of the present invention togetherwith a few alternative handle struc tures. Other arrangements will beevident to those skilled in the art, for example, the top 42 may behinged to one side of the coflin as may the shroud 40. Applicant therefore does not wish to be limited other than by the terms of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A coflin structure comprising: side walls and end walls forming asubstantially rectangular cross section, a bottom wall extendingsubstantially perpendicular to said walls, a web projecting laterallyfrom each of said walls and extending circumferentially of said coflinabout midway up said walls, a peripheral flange on the free end of saidweb and extending substantially perpendicular to said web, whereby saidflange and web and said walls combine to form a beam structure resistingdeflection of said walls, said flange having hand-engaging areas.

2. A coflin as defined in claim 1, further comprising a lip-formingmember extending around the mouth of said coflin, said member having aninward projecting circumferential lower flange and an inward projectingupper flange extending part way around said member, spaced from andparallel to said lower flange.

3. A coffin as defined in claim 1 wherein said web has spaced handholds.

4. A cofl'ln as defined in claim 2 wherein said Web has spaced handholds.

5. A coflin as defined in claim 1 wherein said peripheral flange has acurled lip forming a hand-engaging section.

6. A coflin as defined in claim 2 wherein said peripheral flange has acurled lip forming a hand-engaging section.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/ 1897 Turbeville 273 X 8/ 1907Erickson. 3/ 1955 Wilson D449 FOREIGN PATENTS 10/ 1898 Great Britain.

US. Cl. X.R.

